(Today’s post is in partnership with Nespresso.)

I remember speaking to a friend many years back about sustainability. 

He asked me, “Are you using your platform to help?” as he explained fashion’s negative impact on the environment. I innocently answered, “Not really…but what can I do to change that?” He said, “It starts with your daily routine.” 

I’ve made big strides since that conversation, but will fully admit that I’m still learning. I travel a lot. I occasionally use plastic and I’ve featured fast-fashion brands on here without fully realizing the cheap materials used to churn out the clothing and then how quickly it all gets disposed. Today, I’m much more conscious and intentional about what I feature on here, which is why I’m excited to share the small steps I’ve personally been taking since then. 

Besides, it’s not as difficult as you may think! 

  1.  Recycle. This one’s obvious, but hear me out. I start every morning with a cup of coffee from my Nespresso VertuoPlus machine. Once I’m finished with my aluminum capsules, I dispose of them using my pre-paid Nespresso recycling bag (which they provide) and simply drop it off at my nearest boutique or UPS location. If dropping off isn’t an option, you can easily give it to the postman when he delivers your next package. It’s that easy! 

2.  Shop your closet, consign, or donate! I’m a huge proponent of this and have been for years. Mend your old clothing. Regularly mending my clothing and shopping my closet has allowed me to reevaluate what I have and truly need. You can also consign or donate, which will help support local businesses and give your clothing a second-life. I have countless blog posts dedicated to this topic! 

  3.  Try vintage. Which leads me to my next point. Don’t be afraid to buy vintage. There’s a unique charm and story attached to the gems you can find. I feel so lucky to live near Antique Row in West Palm Beach where I shop regularly for gently used clothing (sometimes furniture and art as well). There’s something special about it and you’re able to help reclaim and upcycle items that would have ended up in landfills otherwise.

   4.  Or, try a sustainable brand! The fashion industry is changing with more and more brands placing an emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices as their values, which makes it easier for us to be more mindful of our purchases. For the past several months, I’ve tried to highlight as many sustainable brands as possible. Some of my favorites include Mara Hoffman (as shown today, I’m re-wearing one of her dresses recently featured in Bermuda), Reformation, Sezane, Alma Weaving, Amur, Vélosophy and so on. 

   5.  Eat locally. Believe it or not, most locally sourced foods do not contain pesticides or harmful chemicals that can negatively impact your community and the environment. The many reasons why I love dining at Mrs. Mandolin Aegean Bistro in the Miami Design District or Celis Produce in West Palm Beach, both of which use locally sourced, fresh produce. Often times these types of restaurants already have a close relationship with the local farmers, which usually means the menus are based on what’s locally available each season. Dining and shopping at your nearest farmer’s market can help encourage food to be produced more efficiently, by using less water, soil, fertilizer, food packaging and so much more.  

6.  Use eco-friendly products in your everyday life! Aside from using my recyclable Nespresso capsules, I’ve been jotting down my daily to-do list with a Caran d’Ache ballpoint pen, which was actually made using the aluminum from Nespresso’s recycled capsules. Since there are countless and creative ways to reduce waste, I have to mention my new RE:CYCLE bike (my first bike!), a collaboration between Nespresso and Swedish brand, Vélosophy. This limited-edition bike was also made by extending the life of 300 used Nespresso aluminum capsules. I didn’t realize this until now, but aluminum is one of the world’s more valuable resources because it can be re-melted and reused again and again, allowing brands to give the material a second life (it’s amazing to think that by recycling those capsules I’ve played a small part in building a bike like this!). I’ve loved riding around West Palm Beach and Miami with it (more on that in a second!) while enjoying my coffee (or water) on the go. 

While cycling in the South Florida heat, I needed to break for some water. As I unpacked my Nomad bottle that I placed in the cup-holder basket, a few people asked me about the bike as they hadn’t seen this color or the unique detail of the bell before. I mentioned that its color is actually a nod to Nespresso’s popular Arpeggio coffee, the bell is inspired by  a Vertuo capsule and the bike was made from the aluminum of these recycled capsules. They were so surprised that a bike could be made from all that! These bikes can be purchased on Vélosophy’s website here.  

7.  Take the Brightline. The Brightline train, our newest addition to South Florida, has not only helped reduce car emissions and traffic, but has made my life so much easier. I take the Brightline train at least once a week where I occasionally bring my bike on board (it’s complimentary!) to use over the weekends. And let me tell you – I love using my bike to get around town (while leaving my car parked at home). Not only am I able to dodge traffic and get a little workout in, but I feel great doing so.

See, you don’t need to dramatically alter your life to improve the environment. In fact, there are so many ways we can change our daily routines to become more eco-friendly. Beginning with actions as simple as recycling Nespresso capsules in the morning and knowing that the same recycled capsules can be used to create an iconic, symbolic bike like this one.

Head on over to my Instagram post here and comment below on the #MySmallSteps you’ve taken to live more sustainably.  

Xo, Stephanie